Building



Jan. 26, 1943. l s M woQD ET AL 2,309,149

BUILDING v Filed Maron 29, 1,941 5 sheets-sheet 1 y /IJVENTORS ATTORNEY.

Jan. 26, 1943. s. M. wooD Erm.

BUILDING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1941 INVENTORJ ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 26, 1943. s. M. wooD ETAL BUILDING Filed 'March 29, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ATTORNEY),

Jan. 26, 1943. s. M. wooD ETAL y 2.309.149

BUILDING Filed March 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 26, 1943. s. M. wooDETAL 2,309,149

BUILDING Filed March 29. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A T7' ORA/E545.

Paienied Jan. ze, 1943 BUILDING Sydney M. Wood, Lake Bluff, and

James Roe, Chicago, Ill.

Application Match 29, 1941, Serial No. 385,804

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the art of fabricatingbuildings or the like.

While the present invention has broad applicability to the fabricationof various conventionaly structures such as houses, garages, andfactories, it is' a particular object to provide a building constructioncapable of withstanding to 'a maximum extent the rigors of modernwarfare.

The invention is therefore particularly suited for use in constructingair raid shelters, light forts, pillboxes. and ordnance and munitionbuildings.

In connection with this type of use, while it is not possible to devisea. construction which will withstand all direct bomb hits, neverthelesssuch direct hits are relatively rare and a great majority of damage frombombs affects structures which are near to or in the general regionofthe explosion. Such damage results from the excessive pressures in onedirection created by the explosion itself, and from forces acting in areverse direction immediately after the explosion when the air rushes into iill the void or vacuum caused by the explosion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a buildingconstruction of preformed, interiitting elements capable of withstandingsaid abnormal and excessive pressure conditions ceated by nearby bombexplosions, and also capable of withstanding glancing hits and hits fromshrapnel, the said resistance of the improved construction being due toa combination of features including stress lugs, stress bolts, and anovel corner interlock resistant to stresses from all directions andadapted to distribute such stresses to a plurality of units to minimizethe strain which might otherwise have to be borne by a single unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as abovedescribed wherein the corner interlock is free of exterior projections.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a.building may be fabricated from preformed units of concrete or the likein a few hours' time, the units being equipped with interlockingfeatures which permit the use of inexperienced labor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a buildingconstruction fabricated from interlocking and cooperating units, whichconstruction permits quick disassembly of the units and transportationto a new location for further use; the invention is thus well adaptedfor use in connection with modernl warfare.

A further object of the invention is vto provide in a buildingconstruction, novel footing units having joints designed to equalizestresses on the units.

Other objects of the invention are to provide in a building constructionmeans for preventing the entrance of poison gas between the assembledunits; means adapted toaid in the support of sandbags or the like on theroof; and means spaced upwardly above the roof for receiving the mainforce of direct hits to thereby protect the roof proper.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimprovements in the art of fabricating buildings, or the like, and allits parts and combinations as set forth in the claims,

and all equivalents thereof. In the accompanyy ing drawings, in whichthe same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of theviews,

Fig, 1 is a perspective view Vof an air raid shelter;

Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the wall elements;

Fig. 3 is a side view of said element;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a different wall element, where the dimensionsof the building are such that the element can extend from one corner tothe other;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a starting wall element havingincreased width;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the wall elements,showing the formation at the end of said element for use in the novelcorner interlock;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a special finishing wall element of increasedthickness having only one end adapted for use at a corner;

Fig. 9 is a. side view of a similar element having both ends adapted foruse at corners;

Fig. 10 is an end view of an interior crossbeam for use in formingpartitions within a building;

Fig. 11 is a side view of said beamshowing the method of interlockingits ends with a wall member of the type shown in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 12 is a top view of a stretcher wall element;

Fig. 13 is a side view of said element;

Fig. 14 is a top view of one of the footing members;

Fig. 15 is a front elevational ing member;

Fig. 16 is an end view ofthe footing member;

Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view through view of said footone ofthe footing members showing wall ele-n ments and a iioor unit assembledthereon;

Fig. 18 is an elevational view of one of the inner roof units;

Fig. 19 is a side view of a gable filler unit;

Fig. 20 is an end view of a. building structure, part being broken away;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2|-2I ofFig. 20 showing details of the roof assembly;

Fig. 22 is a. horizontal sectional view through a building showing thefooting units, wall umts assembled thereon, partition beams, and floorunits, parts being broken away;

Fig. 23 is a side elevational view of a building utilizing the improvedconstruction, parts being broken away;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view looking from the interior of a buildingincorporating the improved construction;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a number of assembledwall units to illustrate a slightly modified form of corner interlock;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the group ofelements shown in Fig. 25; and

Fig. 2'1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the group of elementsof Fig. 26.

In carrying out the present invention there are a limited number ofelements or units which are necesssary in the formation of a building,and by having a supply of these elements various different buildings maybe erected. It is also possible to quickly disassemble any of thestructures and to use the units either in the same location for buildinga different structure, or in a different location for erecting anydesired type of building. The standard units are all preferably formedof cast reinforced concrete, but for some purposes other materials areobviously suitable.

Wall elements Referring to Fig. 1, illustrating one type of air raidshelter, a, long side wall consists of tiers of wall elements, each tiercomprising an element 30 (Fig. 2) at each end and an element 3l (Fig.12) in between the two elements 30. The element 30 has one end speciallyformed as at 32 to cooperate with similar elements in providing anunusual form of corner interlock particularly adapted for use inresisting strains in all directions, such as the elements of an air raidshelter might be subjected to. The other end of the element 30 has adovetail projection 33 for cooperation with the dovetail recess 34 ofthe element 3l. The other end of the element 3l may be equipped with adovetail projection for cooperation with a second element 30. The secondelement 30, however, differs from the element of Fig. 2 in that in lieuof the dovetail projection 33 it must have a dovetail recess like therecess 34 of Fig. 12. v

'Iiers of the elements thus arranged are built up to desired height, andif a door is desired such as the door 35', certain of the wall formingelements must be of special length to cooperate in leaving a suitableopening.

In cross-sectional view all of the wall forming elements are like orsimilar to the showing of Fig. 6. In this figure it may be seen thatfrom the top of each element are spaced stress distributing lugs 36 forcooperation with similarly shaped recesses 36 in the bottom of anelement thereabove. Also on the top of each element Cal are spacedelongated tongues 31 (see also Fig. 2) 75 having upwardly convergingsides 3B. These tongues are received in elongated grooves 31' formed onthe lower side of an element thereabove. Where the construction isdesired for war-time use soft mastic strips 39 may be employed on top ofthe tongues 31. These strips may be formed of any material which isinexpensive, compressible, and mastic, such as rubber or rubbercompositions, asphalt, or asphalt treated fabric. The use of strips ofthis type form a seal extending throughout the major portion of thelength of each element to prevent gas from entering between theelements, because when one unit is placed on top of' another the weightof the unit above compresses the mastic material, making a gas-tightseal. Also entering into the combination for producing an ef1 fectiveseal between the elements are stress distributing bolts 4I (see Figs. 20and 23) which extend through suitably located openings 42 in the wallelements, and which may continue to the top of a side wall as in Fig.23, or to the roof as in Fig. 20. The lower ends of these bolts aresuitably anchored in a manner to be hereinafter explained, and the upperends may be provided with nuts 43 which may be tightened to furthercompress the mastic material and aid in perfecting the seal.

Where the building is to be semi-permanent in character, wire ties maybe cast into the sides of the elements to facilitate the attachment oifurring strips. This, therefore, makes it possible to apply plaster ifdesired.

Where a wall of a building is of limited length, a single element 44(see Fig. 4) may be employed to extend the entire length of the wall. Insuch case both ends of the element are provided with means for effectinga corner interlock, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 4.

Inasmuch as two of the elements when interlocked at the corners by themeans 32 are in offset horizontal planes, it is necessary when start inga building to use as a starting element on one wall, an element ofspecial thickness such as the .element 45 of Fig. 5. The extra materialat a in said element will extend downwardly to meet the footings andprevent a gap which would otherwise occur, The use of these elements 45of special thickness on the end walls is indicated in Figs. 1 and 20.Similarly, at the top of the wall a special condition arisesnecessitating the use of a special finishing element 46 or 41 (Figs. 8and 9). These elements 46 or 41 have the extra thickness at b so thatthe top of the wall in which they are employed will be ush with the topof a wall at right angles thereto.

Corner interlock The novel corner interlock which is of such importancein the present invention effectively interlocks a. plurality of elementsso that the sresses upon any one element are distributed to otheradjacent elements. The corner is also arranged so that there are noprojecting ends.

Referring first to Figs. 2, 3, and 7, the upper surface has a transversenotch or recess 48 therein adjacent an end. The recess 48 extends atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the element. The recess 48 ispreferably tapered downwardly in width, as is clear from Fig. 3, and thebottom of the recess terminates at 49, approximately midway of thethickness of the element. Intermediate the length of the recess or notch48 is a projection 50 having upwardly tapering sides t i. Thisprojection extends transversely of ascenso the vrecess il andsubstantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the element. The topof the projection Il terminates short of the top surface of the element,as is clear from Figs. 3 and 7.

The lower side of the element adjacent the end is shaped to provide 'atongue l2 which extends in the direction of theiongitudinal axis of theelement and at right angles to the direction of extent of the recess ornotch Il. The inw l2 is complemental in shape tothe recess and has itslower side formed intermediate the length of said tongue. with a recessI3 which is complemental in shape to the projection Il.

A modified form of corner interlock is'illustrated in Figs. 25 26, and27, wherein the elements 30 have end portions of increased width as at54 with angular surfaces I4' leading to said portions of increasedwidth, which, as shown in Fig. 26, form an interior reinforcing web atthe corner. 'Ihe only other difference in the construclion of Fig. 25and the construction of Fig. 7 resides in the length of the interlockingparts, such length being obviously greater in the form of Figs. 25, 26,and 27 because of the increased width of the elements 30'. The samereference numerals are applied to the interlocking portions in Figs. 25,26 and 27 as are applied to the corresponding parts in Figs. 2, 3, and7. y

The method of assembling the elements at the verse recess 43 engaged bythe tongue l! of an element B extending at right angles to the elementA. In fitting into the recess 43; the central recess 53 of the tongue I!obviously engages the lwith thev lower ends of the stress bolts (i.

the base portions I3 of the footlngs. The side and end edges of theflooring sections may be tapered, as at 63, to provide a space for thereception of a sealing mastic 64, -as shown in Fig. 17. The material 34may be'similar to the material of 3l, shown and described in connectionwith Fig. 6. Mastic material 34 may alsobe employed between vthe meetingedges of adjacent ilooring sections, as shown in Fig. 22.

One end of each footing unit is formed with downwardly convergingmortises Il for the reception of complemental tenons 36 on the end of anadjacent footing unit. This special type of joint between the ends ofthe footing units is effective in carrying the stresses from one unit tothe next. For the corners of a building structure the footing units maybe L-shaped, as at l1, Fig. 22.

'Ihe inner side of the upstanding part of each footing unit may berecessed, as at 68 (see Figs. 14 and 24), and projecting into eachrecess from the base' of the footing unit is an internally threadedsleeve 69. The sleeves 69 are preferably loose in the footings so thatthey may be moved laterally to some extent for proper alinement Byinserting the hand into the recesses 68 such alinement can be readilyeffected, and-the lower threaded ends of the stress bolts Il can beread- Partitions and roof 1f it is desiredto have parutions within thecomplementally shaped-projection 63 within the v recess 43. At the sametime there is a bracing engagement at 56, see Fig. 26, and at I6. Thetongue 62 interlocking with the recess 4I provides an unusually firminterlock because there is a `close interlock at right angles betweenthe projection 53 and the recess I3 oi' the tongue l2. After theelements Aand B-are connected, an element C is superimposed on theelement A, and

the tongue 52 of the-element C engages with the' 31 are, of course,engaged with the recesses 33' and elongated grooves 31' of thesuperimposed building, some of the wall elements may be notched, as at1I Figs. 12 and 13) for interlocking engagement with specially formedends 12 of interior beams 13, as shown in Figs. 11 and 22.

e One or more of said beams 13 may be employed in.anchored relationshipwith the walls to support other'partition forming members, which 'mayhave recesses for interlocking engagement with the lugs 14 of the beams13. At the top of the longer side walls the stress bolts 4i mayterminste in recesses 1l, see Fig. 24,;and the nuts I3 may be applied tothe' threaded upper ends of said bolts. The stress bolts on the endwalls element, as is clear from Figs. 3 and 6. This type of engagementbetween themembers 31 and 31' is also clearly shown in Fig. 24.

Footinn units It is preferred, in order to rigidly support the ing-units Il (see -Fi`g. 18), and some or all ofi these inner units maybetrussed as at 3i'. The

roof units 13, where nuts 43 may be applied to the threaded upper ends.The 'endmost roofforming unitsll, shown inFig. 20, are assem-v bled inconjunction with other inner roof-form- 1to0!v units` 13 and 3l areassembled, as shown in Figs."1, 21,23 and 24. there being a tonguejandgroove engagement,as'at 3l Figlv 21-)'..between vthe sides of theroofforming units; .The tope most wall-forming .elements 33 on the longwalls -of the structure,'and which form bearingsfor the roo: members,maynaveanchering belts s: pm-

jecting upwardly therefrom,V as shown in Fig."23',

. and extending throughfopenin'gs in the` vroofextends inwardly of thebuilding is formed with openings 63 "for the reception of stress lugs 6iforming umts 13 and". Nuts'tlmay be'threaded on the projecting threadedends of the, bolts I3, whereby the roof units may be tightly connectedto the upper edges oftheside walls.v Y As shown in Fig. 21, masticmaterial I! form- .ingasealag'ainst vpoison gas. similar to thatAdescribed-in connection with Fig. 6, may be emi l e. J

ployed in the tongue and groove connections between the roof units.Horizontal stress bolts Il may also be employed to additionally connectthe roof-forming units and may be provided with the usual nuts which,when tightened, will compress the mastic material 85 and insure aneffective seal against gas.

The gable filler units 'Il shown in Figs. 19 and are of decreasinglength and are placed in superimposed position as illustrated. Stresslugs 81 on the upper edges of the filler units Il are cooperable withstress lug recesses 88 in the lower sides. In addition there may be atongue and V.groove engagement between the superimposed gable fillerunits, as well as between the ends of the gable filler units and theroof-forming units 18, as indicated at 89 in Fig. 2l.

Special roof protection features Where the roof units are for use in anair raid shelter or the likethe lower ends of the units may be formedwith upstanding projections 9|) which cooperate in assembly to provide aparapet wall for holding sand bags 9|, or other like material, inposition on the roof, as shown in Fig. 20. In addition, in order toprotect the roof proper from direct hits it is advantageous to have aframe 92 supported on corner uprights 93, as shown in Fig. 1. Auxiliaryroof members 94 may then be laid on the frame 92 to receive the directresults of a hit and probably save the roof proper.

From the above it is believed clear that the construction is unique inits strength and ability to withstand strains in all directions. Thecombination of the stress lugs fitting in recesses, the

stress bolts which extend vertically through all of the wall elements,and the unusual corner interlock, serves to distribute stresses on anyone element to a plurality of elements so that no great forces will haveto be borne by any single unit. The unusual footing units with thestress equalizing end joints are so designed that regardless of thedirection of the stress placed upon a single unit a portion of saidstress will be passed on to the adjacent units. The end connectionsbetween the footings are so designed that alinement of the footings isautomatic. The manner in which the inside beams 'I3 are anchored to thewalls and the use of stress lugs on the ooring, which lugs areengageable with recesses in the footings, creates a spreading effect toaid the walls in resisting exterior stresses.

It is obvious that the building constructions illustrated in Figs. l,20, 22, 23 and 24 are merely illustrative and that various types ofstructures of different size and shape may be formed. The variousbuilding units and elements may also be varied in size and proportionsto suit requirements.

For small air raid shelters or the like the roof units, together withthe gable ller units, may be employed alone without any supportingwalls. This makes an inexpensive, quickly erected shelter. In connectionwith such use, the parapet walls'90 for holding sand bags and theauxiliary roof 94 are desirable additions. The unusual corner interlockshown in Figs. 7, 25, 26 and 2'7 is applicable for use in any type ofconstruction work wherein extra strength and rigidity are important andmay be used advantageously in the building of furniture or otherarticles out of wood.

Various other adaptations may occur to those skilled in the art, as wellas additional changes and modifications, and al1 of such changes arecontemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

1. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a recess extending into one side thereof, and having anopposite side formed to provide a tongue of less width than the elementand which is complemental in shape to said recess, said tongue extendingin a direction at right angles to the direction of extent of the recessand the top of the tongue meeting the bottom of the recess on a linemidway of the vertical thickness of the element, the tongue of oneelement being adapted to engage the recess of an element at right anglesthereto.

2. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a recess extending into one side thereof transversely ofthe element and having an opposite side formed to provide a tongue ofless width than the element, said tongue being complemental in shape tosaid recess and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis ofthe element, the top of the tongue lmeeting the bottom of the recess ona line midway of the vertical thickness of the element, the tongue ofone element being adapted to engage the recess of an element at rightangles thereto.

3. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a transverse recess extending into one side thereof ashort distance from an end of the element and having an opposite sideformed to provide a tongue of less width than the element, said tonguebeing complemental in shape to said recess and extending in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the element with one end of thetongue terminating at the end of the element, the'top of the tonguemeeting the bottom oi the recess on a line midway of the verticalthickness of the element, the tongue and recess being positioned inbisecting relationship with one another whereby when the tongue of oneelement is engaged in the recess of another element at right angles tosaid first element a strong flush corner is formed.

4. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a recess extending into one side thereof and having anopposite side formed to provide a tongue which is complemental in shapeto sa'id recess and which tongue extends at right angles to thedirection of extent of said recess, there being a projection extendingtransversely of an intermediate portion of said recess, and said tonguebeing of bifurcated form to provide a recess intermediate the length ofsaid tongue which is complemental in shape to the projection in therst-mentioned recess, the bifurcated tongue of one element being adaptedto engage the recess and projection of an element at right angles tosaid rst element.

5. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a transverse recess extending into one side thereof andhaving an opposite side formed to provide a tongue of less width thanthe element, said tongue being complemental in shape to said recess andextending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the element,there being a projection extending transversely of an intermediateportion of said recess, and said tongue being of bifurcated form toprovide a recess intermediate the length of said tongue which iscomplemental in shape to the projection in the first-mentioned recess,the bifurcated tongue of one element being adapted to engage the recessand projection of an element at right angles to said rst element.

6. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a transverse recess extending into one side thereof ashort distance from an end of the element and having an opposite sideformed to provide a tongue of less width than the element which iscomplemental in shape to said recess, said tongue extending in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the element with one end of thetongue terminating at the end of the element, there being a projectionextending transversely of the center portion of said recess, and saidtongue being of bifurcated form to provide a recess which is central inthe length of said tongue and which is complemental in shape to theprojection in the iirstmentioned recess, the bifurcated tongue of oneelement being adapted to engage the recess and projection of an elementat right angles to said iirst element to provide a strong flush corner.

7. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a transverse recess extending into one side thereof ashort distance from an end of the element and having an opposite sideformed to provide a tongue of less width than the element, said tonguebeing complemental in shape to said recess and extending in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the element with one end of thetongue termi- 8. Elements for use in construction work, each comprisingan elongated member having a transverse recess extending into one sidethereof a short distance from an end of the element and having anopposite side formed 4 to -provide a tongue of less width than theelement. said tongue being complemental in shape to said recess andextending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the element withone end of the tongue terminating at the end of the element, the tongueand recess being positioned in bisecting relationship with one anotherwhereby when the tongue of one element is engaged in the recess ofanother element at right angles to said rst element a strong ilushcorner is formed, the portion ofeach element in which said cornerinterlocking means is formed being of increased width, and there beingan angular surface leading into said portion oi increased width, theangular surfaces of interlocking elements cooperating to form aninterior reinforcing web at the corner.

9. Elements for use in construction work, each comprising an elongatedmember having a portion adjacent an end cut out to provide interlockingmeans, said interlocking means being cooperable with complementaryinterlocking means formed adjacent the end of another element at rightangles to said ilrst element, the portion of each element in which saidinterlocking means is formed being of increased width, and there beingan angular surface leading into said portion oi increased width, theangular surfaces of interlocking elements cooperating to form aninterior reinforcing web at the corner.

SYDNEY M. woon. .mms non.

